Xitsonga
Tsonga
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Tswa-Ronga)
Tsonga (Xitsonga) is a Bantu language of the Tswa-Ronga subgroup, one of South Africa's 11 official languages, also widely spoken in southern Mozambique, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe, with ~10M speakers (combining South African Xitsonga and Mozambican Tsonga varieties). Famous for whistled fricatives /ʃʷ/ /ʒʷ/ (a rare cross-linguistic feature) and for one of the few labio-dental flap consonants /ⱱ/ found in Bantu languages. Has 18 noun classes with extensive concord. Tsonga literature flourished in the 20th century with poets such as B. K. M. Mtombeni; the Bible translation was completed in 1907.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Tsonga
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Tswa-Ronga)
| Meaning | Tsonga | Lozi | Southern Ndebele | Venda | Swazi | Northern Ndebele | Manyika |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | mati /mati/ | mezi /mezi/ | amanzi /amanzi/ | maḓi /mad̪i/ | emanti /emanti/ | amanzi /amanzi/ | mvura /mvuɾa/ |
| Fire | ndzilo /ndzilo/ | mulilo /mulilo/ | umlilo /umlilo/ | mulilo /mulilo/ | umlilo /umlilo/ | umlilo /umlilo/ | moto /moto/ |
| Sun | dyambu /dʒambu/ | lizazi /lizazi/ | ilanga /ilaŋɡa/ | ḓuvha /d̪uvʱa/ | lilanga /lilaŋɡa/ | ilanga /ilaŋɡa/ | zuva /zuva/ |
| Moon | nʼweti /ŋweti/ | kweli /kweli/ | inyezi /iɲezi/ | ṅwedzi /ŋwedzi/ | inyanga /iɲaŋɡa/ | inyanga /iɲaŋɡa/ | mwedzi /mwedzi/ |
| Star | nyeleti /ɲeleti/ | naleli /naleli/ | ikwekwezi /ikʷekʷezi/ | ṋaledzi /n̪aledzi/ | inkhanyeti /iŋkʰaɲeti/ | inkanyezi /iŋkaɲezi/ | nyeredzi /ɲeredzi/ |
| Night | vusiku /vusiku/ | busihu /busihu/ | ubusuku /uɓusuku/ | vhusiku /vʱusiku/ | busuku /ɓusuku/ | ubusuku /ubusuku/ | usiku /usiku/ |
| Rain | mpfula /ˈmpfula/ | pula /ˈpula/ | izulu /izulu/ | mvula /ˈmvula/ | imvula /imˈvula/ | imvula /imˈvula/ | mvura /mvura/ |
| Snow | gamboko /ɡamboko/ | litwa /ˈlitwa/ | iliqhwa /iliǃʰwa/ | mahaḓa /mahad̪a/ | lichwa /liǀʰwa/ | iliqhwa /iliǃʰwa/ | — |
| Wind | moya /moja/ | moya /moja/ | umoya /umoja/ | muya /muja/ | umoya /umoːja/ | umoya /umoːja/ | mhepo /mʰepo/ |
| Earth | misava /misava/ | mubu /mubu/ | ihlabathi /iɬaɓatʰi/ | mavu /mavu/ | umhlabatsi /umɬaɓatsi/ | inhlabathi /inɬaɓaːtʰi/ | ivhu /iβu/ |
| Stone | ribye /riˈbje/ | licwe /liˈtʃwe/ | ilitje /iliˈtʃe/ | tombo /tombo/ | litje /liˈtʃe/ | ilitshe /iliˈtʃe/ | ibwe /iɓwe/ |
| Mountain | ntshava /ntsʰava/ | lilundu /lilundu/ | intaba /inˈtaːɓa/ | thavha /tʰavʱa/ | intsaba /intsaɓa/ | intaba /inˈtaːɓa/ | gomo /ɡomo/ |
| Sea | lwandle /lwandɮe/ | liwate /liwate/ | ilwandle /ilwandɮe/ | lwanzhe /lwanʒe/ | lwandle /lwandɮe/ | ulwandle /ulwandɮe/ | gungwa /ɡuŋɡwa/ |
| Mother | manana /manana/ | ma /ma/ | umma /umma/ | mme /mːe/ | make /make/ | umama /umama/ | amai /amai/ |
| Father | tatana /tatana/ | ndate /ndate/ | ubaba /uɓaɓa/ | khotsi /kʰotsi/ | babe /ɓaɓe/ | ubaba /uɓaɓa/ | baba /baba/ |
| Daughter | nʼwana wa xisati /ŋʷana wa ʃisati/ | mwana wa musizana /mwana wa musizana/ | indodakazi /indodakazi/ | ṅwananyana /ŋʷanaɲana/ | indvodzakati /indvodzakaːti/ | indodakazi /indodakazi/ | mukunda /mukunda/ |
| I | mina /mina/ | na /na/ | mina /mina/ | nṋe /n̪ːe/ | mine /míne/ | mina /mina/ | ini /ini/ |
| You | wena /wena/ | wena /wena/ | wena /wena/ | iwe /iwe/ | wena /wéna/ | wena /wena/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| We | hina /hina/ | luna /luna/ | thina /tʰina/ | riṋe /rin̪e/ | tsine /tsíne/ | thina /tʰina/ | isu /isu/ |
| Name | vito /vito/ | libizo /libizo/ | ibizo /iɓizo/ | dzina /dzina/ | libito /liɓiːto/ | ibizo /ibizo/ | zita /zita/ |
| Person | munhu /munʱu/ | mutu /mutu/ | umuntu /umuntu/ | muthu /mutʰu/ | umuntfu /umuntfu/ | umuntu /umuntu/ | munhu /munʱu/ |
| Head | nhloko /nɬoko/ | toho /toho/ | ihloko /iɬoko/ | ṱhoho /t̪ʰoho/ | inhloko /inɬoko/ | ikhanda /iˈkʰanda/ | musoro /musoro/ |
| Eye | tihlo /tiɬo/ | liito /liːto/ | ilihlo /iliɬo/ | iṱo /it̪o/ | liso /liso/ | ilihlo /iliɬo/ | ziso /ziso/ |
| Ear | ndleve /ndɮeve/ | zebe /zebe/ | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | nḓevhe /n̪d̪evʱe/ | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | indlebe /indɮɛɓe/ | nzeve /nzeve/ |
| Nose | nhompfu /nʱompfu/ | ngo /ŋo/ | ipumulo /ipuˈmulo/ | ningo /niŋo/ | likhala /likʰala/ | ikhala /ikʰala/ | mhino /mʱino/ |
| Mouth | nomu /nomu/ | mulomo /mulomo/ | umlomo /umˈlomo/ | mulomo /mulomo/ | umlomo /umlomo/ | umlomo /umˈlomo/ | muromo /muromo/ |
| Tooth | tino /tino/ | liino /liːno/ | izinyo /iziɲo/ | iṋo /in̪o/ | litinyo /litiɲo/ | izinyo /iziɲo/ | zino /zino/ |
| Tongue | ririmi /ririmi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | ilimu /ilimu/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | lulwimi /lulwimi/ | ulimi /ulimi/ | rurimi /rurimi/ |
| Hand | voko /voko/ | lizoho /lizoho/ | isandla /isandɮa/ | tshanḓa /tʃʰan̪d̪a/ | sandla /sandɮa/ | isandla /isandɮa/ | ruoko /ɾwoko/ |
| Foot | nenge /neŋɡe/ | lihutu /liˈhutu/ | inyawo /iɲawo/ | mulenzhe /mulenʒe/ | lunyawo /luɲawo/ | unyawo /uɲawo/ | — |
| Heart | mbilu /mbilu/ | pilu /pilu/ | ihliziyo /iɬizijo/ | mbilu /mbilu/ | inhlitiyo /inɬitijo/ | inhliziyo /inɬizijo/ | mwoyo /mwojo/ |
| Bone | rhambu /rambu/ | sapo /sapo/ | ithambo /itʰambo/ | ḽirambo /l̪irambo/ | litsambo /litsambo/ | ithambo /itʰambo/ | godo /ɡodo/ |
| Blood | ngati /ŋɡati/ | mali /mali/ | iingazi /iːŋɡazi/ | malofha /maloɸa/ | ingati /iŋɡati/ | igazi /iɡazi/ | ropa /ropa/ |
| Love | rirhandzu /riɾandzu/ | lilato /lilato/ | ithando /itʰando/ | lufuno /lufuno/ | lutsandvo /lutsandwo/ | uthando /utʰando/ | rudo /ɾudo/ |
| Tree | nsinya /nsiɲa/ | kota /kota/ | umuthi /umutʰi/ | muri /muri/ | sihlahla /siɬaɬa/ | isihlahla /isiɬaɬa/ | muti /muti/ |
| Dog | mbyana /mbjana/ | nja /ndʒa/ | inja /indʒa/ | mmbwa /mːbwa/ | inja /indʒa/ | inja /indʒa/ | mbwa /mbwa/ |
| Cat | mangoyi /maŋɡoji/ | kaze /kaze/ | ikati /ikati/ | katse /katse/ | likati /likati/ | ikati /ikati/ | katsi /katsi/ |
| Fish | nhlampfi /nɬampfi/ | tapi /tapi/ | ihlambi /iɬambi/ | khovhe /kʰovʱe/ | inhlanti /iɬanti/ | inhlanzi /iɬanzi/ | hove /hove/ |
| Bird | xinyenyana /ʃiɲeˈɲana/ | nyunywani /ɲuɲwani/ | inyoni /iɲoni/ | tshiṋoni /tʃiˈn̪oni/ | inyoni /iɲoni/ | inyoni /iɲoni/ | shiri /ʃiri/ |
| Butterfly | phapharhati /pʰapʰaˈrati/ | sipulumuki /sipulumuki/ | iviyaviyani /ivijavijani/ | tshisusu /tʃʰisusu/ | luvivane /luvivane/ | ivevane /iveˈvane/ | — |
| Egg | tandza /tandza/ | lii /liː/ | iqanda /iǃanda/ | gumba /ɡumba/ | licandza /liǀandza/ | iqanda /iǃanda/ | zai /zai/ |
| Bear | bere /bere/ | bele /bele/ | ibhere /ibʱere/ | biara /biara/ | libhele /libʱele/ | ibhere /ibʱere/ | — |
| Horse | hanci /hantʃi/ | pizi /pizi/ | injomani /indʒoˈmani/ | bere /bere/ | lihhashi /liɦaʃi/ | ibhiza /iˈbiza/ | bhiza /biza/ |
| House | yindlu /jindɮu/ | ndu /ndu/ | indlu /indɮu/ | nnḓu /n̪d̪u/ | indlu /indɮu/ | indlu /indɮu/ | mhatso /mhatso/ |
| Milk | masi /masi/ | mabisi /mabisi/ | ibisi /iˈɓisi/ | mafhi /maɸi/ | lubisi /luˈɓisi/ | uchago /uˈtʃaɡo/ | mukaka /mukaka/ |
| Honey | vulombe /vulombe/ | linosi /linosi/ | iliju /ilidʒu/ | mutoli /mutoli/ | luju /ludʒu/ | uluju /uludʒu/ | uchi /utʃi/ |
| Salt | munyu /muɲu/ | lizwai /lizwai/ | itswayi /itswaji/ | muṋo /mun̪o/ | luswayi /luswaji/ | itswayi /itswaji/ | munyu /muɲu/ |
| Wine | vhinyo /viɲo/ | waine /waine/ | iwayini /iwaˈjini/ | waini /waini/ | liwayini /liwajini/ | iwayini /iwaˈjini/ | waini /waini/ |
| Rice | rhayisi /rajisi/ | laisi /laisi/ | ireyisi /irejisi/ | raisi /raisi/ | lilayisi /lilajisi/ | — | mupunga /mupuŋɡa/ |
| Chocolate | chokoleti /tʃokoleti/ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Iron | nsimbi /nsimbi/ | sipi /sipi/ | isimbi /iˈsimbi/ | tsimbi /tsimbi/ | insimbi /inˈsimbi/ | insimbi /inˈsimbi/ | simbi /simbi/ |
| Wheel | vhilwa /vilwa/ | liwili /liwili/ | ivili /iˈvili/ | mulinga /muliŋa/ | lisondvo /liˈsondvo/ | ivili /iˈvili/ | vhiri /βiri/ |
| Silk | silika /silika/ | siliki /siliki/ | isilika /isiˈlika/ | siliga /siliɡa/ | silika /silika/ | isilika /isiˈlika/ | siriki /siriki/ |
| Book | buku /buku/ | buka /buka/ | incwadi /iŋǀʷadi/ | bugu /buɡu/ | incwadzi /iŋǀʷadzi/ | incwadi /iŋǀʷadi/ | bhuku /buku/ |
| Eat | ku dya /ku dʒa/ | kuca /kutʃa/ | ukudla /ukuɮa/ | u ḽa /u l̪a/ | kudla /kuɮa/ | ukudla /ukuɮa/ | kudya /kudʒa/ |
| Drink | ku nwa /ku nwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | ukusela /ukusela/ | u nwa /u nwa/ | kunatsa /kunatsa/ | ukunatha /ukunatʰa/ | kumwa /kumwa/ |
| Sleep | ku etlela /ku eˈtɬela/ | kulobala /kulobala/ | ukulala /ukulala/ | u eḓela /u eˈd̪ela/ | kulala /kulala/ | ukulala /ukulala/ | rara /ˈraɾa/ |
| One | rinʼwe /riŋwe/ | nyinwi /ɲiŋʷi/ | nye /ɲe/ | nthihi /ntʰihi/ | kunye /kuɲe/ | nye /ɲe/ | rimwe /ɾimwe/ |
| Two | mbirhi /mbiri/ | peli /peli/ | kubili /kuɓili/ | mbili /mbili/ | kubili /kuɓiːli/ | kubili /kubili/ | piri /piri/ |
| Three | nharhu /ɳaɾu/ | talu /talu/ | kuthathu /kutʰatʰu/ | tharu /tʰaru/ | kutsatfu /kutsʼatfu/ | kuthathu /kutʰatʰu/ | tatu /tatu/ |
| Four | mune /mune/ | ne /ne/ | kune /kunɛ/ | ṋa /n̪a/ | kune /kune/ | kune /kune/ | ina /ina/ |
| Five | ntlhanu /ntɬʰanu/ | ketalizoho /ketalizoho/ | ihlanu /iɬanu/ | ṱhanu /t̪ʰanu/ | sihlanu /siɬaːnu/ | hlanu /ɬaːnu/ | shanu /ʃanu/ |
| Hundred | dzana /dzana/ | mwanda /mwanda/ | ikhulu /iˈkʰulu/ | ḓana /d̪ana/ | likhulu /liˈkʰulu/ | ikhulu /iˈkʰulu/ | zana /zana/ |
| Hello | avuxeni /avuʃeni/ | lumela /lumela/ | lotjhani /lotʃʰani/ | ndaa /ndaː/ | sawubona /sawuɓona/ | salibonani /saliɓonani/ | makadii /makadiː/ |
| Thank you | inkomu /iŋkomu/ | nitumezi /nitumezi/ | ngiyathokoza /ŋijatʰokoza/ | ndo livhuwa /ndo livʱuwa/ | ngiyabonga /ŋijaɓoŋɡa/ | ngiyabonga /ŋijaɓoŋɡa/ | mazviita /mazviita/ |
| Good | kahle /kaɬe/ | nde /nde/ | kuhle /kuɬe/ | zwavhuḓi /zwavʱud̪i/ | kuhle /kuɬe/ | kuhle /kuɬe/ | kunaka /kunaka/ |
| New | ntshwa /ntsʰwa/ | nca /ntʃa/ | tjha /tʃʰa/ | ntswa /ntswa/ | sha /ʃa/ | tsha /tʃʰa/ | itsva /itsva/ |
| Red | tshwuka /tsʰwuka/ | fubelu /fubelu/ | bomvu /ɓoːmvu/ | tswuku /tswuku/ | bovu /ɓoːvu/ | bomvu /ɓoːmvu/ | tsvuku /tsvuku/ |
| White | basa /ˈbasa/ | sweu /sweu/ | mhlophe /mɬɔpʰe/ | tshena /tsʰena/ | mhlophe /mɬɔpʰe/ | mhlophe /mɬɔpʰe/ | chena /tʃena/ |
| Black | ntima /ntima/ | nsu /nsu/ | nzima /nzima/ | ntswu /ntswu/ | mnyama /mɲaːma/ | mnyama /mɲaːma/ | tema /tema/ |
| Green | rihlaza /riɬaza/ | tala /tala/ | hlaza /ɬaːza/ | dala /dala/ | luhlata /luɬaːta/ | luhlaza /luɬaːza/ | — |
| Blue | rihlaza /riɬaza/ | tala /tala/ | hlaza /ɬaːza/ | lutombo /lutombo/ | luhlata /luɬaːta/ | luhlaza /luɬaːza/ | — |
| Cuckoo | ngwafalantala /ŋʷafalanˈtala/ | — | — | — | phezukwemkhono /pʰɛzukwɛmˈkʰono/ | inkanku /iⁿˈkaŋku/ | — |
| Computer | khompyuta /kʰompjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | ikhomphyutha /ikʰompʰjutʰa/ | khomphyutha /kʰompʰjutʰa/ | — | ikhompiyutha /ikʰompijutʰa/ | — |
| Tea | tiya /tija/ | tii /tiː/ | itiye /iˈtije/ | tie /tie/ | litiya /litija/ | itiye /itije/ | — |
| Coffee | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | ikofi /ikofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | likhofi /likʰofi/ | ikhofi /ikʰofi/ | — |
| Sugar | chukela /tʃukela/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | itjhukela /itʃʰukela/ | swigiri /swiɡiri/ | shukela /ʃukela/ | itshukela /itʃukela/ | — |
| Orange | lamula /lamula/ | olenji /olendʒi/ | orentji /orentʃi/ | — | — | — | — |
| Ninety-nine | makume nkaye nkaye /makume ŋkaje ŋkaje/ | — | amatjhumi alithoba nethoba /amatʃʰumi alitʰoɓa netʰoɓa/ | — | emashumi layimfica nemfica /emaʃumi lajimfiǀa nemfiǀa/ | amatshumi aficamunwemunye lesificamunwemunye /amatʃumi afiǀamunwemunje lesifiǀamunwemunje/ | makumi mapfumbamwe namapfumbamwe /makumi mapfumbamwe namapfumbamwe/ |
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